7 Keys to Dealing with Difficult People You Love

Your most important relationships may also be the most impossible, say New York Times bestselling authors, Pastor Kerry and Chris Shook.

Will you dare to love?

Facetime or Faceoff? For the tenth consecutive year, you receive one of those one-size-fits-all holiday letters from an old friend who rarely bothers to call even when they’re in your area. You’re annoyed and even a bit hurt. Don’t take it personally. Technology, with all its perks, has made us believe that we can have deep and rich friendships with minimal face-to-face interaction. Not so, but even families have bought into it. Checking in with texts and tweets, Facebook, emails and yes, that year-in-review holiday letter is not enough. Relationships are built on shared experiences—good and bad—and there is simply no substitute for doing life together. If the relationship is worth keeping, don’t wait for next year’s letter. Reach out, in person, now. You may even discover that your friend—aside from being thrilled—always assumed you were just too busy.